Wales Falklands War hero Simon Weston will open the new season for The City of Newport Business Club next month (September 27).
Former Welsh Guardsman Simon, from the Caerphilly village of Nelson, was seriously injured in 1982 when the Sir Galahad battleship he was aboard was destroyed by enemy fire in Bluff Cove on the Falkland Islands.
Simon endured years of pains taking re-constructive surgery, including 70 major operations and surgical procedures. Over the intervening time Simon has become a name and face well known for his courageous struggle to overcome his injuries (46% burns) and to redefine his role in life.
Simon , aged 51, will tell his inspirational story and in so doing seek to motivate and encourage those, who like him, want to move on to the next goal, whatever it may be.
Simon’s story has been well publicised. He has been the subject of five major BBC Television documentaries: Simon’s War, Simon’s Peace, Simon’s Triumph, Simon’s Return and in April 1999, Simon’s Journey. He has been a ‘victim’ on This is Your Life. His autobiography Walking Tall was No1 in the best selling list. Going Back was also a best seller being in the top 10 for eight weeks. His most recent book, Moving on was published in 2003 and sees Simon lay his Falklands ghosts to rest.
In 2007 Simon presented a series of programmes for ITN, looking back at the 25th Anniversary of the Falklands War, and in 2008 again worked with ITN covering the 90th Anniversary of the end of the First World War. In 2012 he went back to the Falklands with war reporter Mike Nicholson and former marine Nick Taylor in a moving programme called Returning to the Falklands.
City of Newport Business Club Chairman David Barnes said: “We’re delighted and honoured to have been able to get Simon to come to talk to the City of Newport Business Club.
“We’re looking forward to hearing about his life, his enormous, well-documented struggle since the Falklands and to learn how he has managed to over come major obstacles to arrive at where he is today in this the thirtieth anniversary year of the Falklands War.”
Simon Weston is guest of the City of Newport Business Club on Thursday, September 27, from 5.30pm at The Holiday Inn, The Coldra Newport.